→ text (a little bit forward dated)

[controlledvariable]

[The message today is in text, because she doesn't want anyone to hear how her voice shakes or see how exhausted she is.]

I know there's a lot going on right now, so I'll keep this quick.

Anyone who knew Ellie Linton, she's gone back to her own war, about ten days ago, so if you were worried about not having seen her around, that's why. Sorry for not contacting people privately, it was a little hard to keep up with who all she knew.

[And maybe there's part of her that just didn't want to deal with having the same conversation over and over again.

This is easier.]

For our new arrivals: my name's Steph, welcome to our temporary moon base, feel free to get in touch if there's anything I can help with. This is my tenth month since arriving, so I know a thing or two.

I also wouldn't mind some sparring partners. Or if anyone wants to learn how to fight, I know about twenty different martial arts styles and I'm happy to teach people to defend themselves. Anything to help keep busy.

That's it from me, have a nice day, everyone.

Comments

permathat.

[bumbles]

I'm-- yeah. O-okay.

( Not good like he almost said on reflex; that is a lie. )

Adjusting.

[controlledvariable]

[She's not sure she even believes that okay]

There anything I can do to help?

[bumbles]

That's uh, w-what-- what I'm here to ask you, a-actually.

[controlledvariable]

[There's something like a smile in her voice, even if it sounds tired.]

It can work both ways.

[Not that she's very good at that.]

[bumbles]

Yup.

( But he's not here for help for him. )

So w-what uh, d-do-- what do you think about cheesecake? I m-mean, um. Or just-- sugar, I d-don't know if we can really g-get cake here.

[controlledvariable]

[Oh, Donny.]

It'd probably be freeze dried cake. Or maybe cake in a can. [joking??? sort of???] But I'm a prettybig fan of sugar.

[bumbles]

If it's-- f-freeze dried does uh, does that m-mean it doesn't n-need icing?

( heeeeey that was a terrible pun )

[controlledvariable]

[God help her, but she laughs, a quiet chuckle.]

That's just cold.

[She's tired give her a break.]

[bumbles]

I w-was, um. Trying to b-break the ice.

( He wants to go fall down a well tbh but he can try for a bro. )

[controlledvariable]

[Another quiet laugh, but she's a little too exhausted to think of more puns.]

Do you reckon there's some kind of relationship between vigilantes and terrible jokes?

[bumbles]

( A long pause. )

D-don't be-- b-batty.

[controlledvariable]

[She doesn't have a desk to drop her head onto, but she would if she could.]

You know, considering how long I've been doing this gig, I actually haven't heard that one very often.

[bumbles]

I h-heard my um, my M-Ma say it m-more than-- Americans.

( probably why. )

P-probably 'c-cause we spend so m-much time on stakeouts.

[controlledvariable]

I dunno, Batman gets it a lot. I think I've just managed to avoid the bad guys who make jokes.

[mostly they just try to kill her!!!]

Guess we have to find some way to keep ourselves amused.

[bumbles]

There's only um, s-so-- so m-many bat p-puns, I guess.

( He has no idea, he's not really thought about it a lot. )

W-we could-- could start t-taking sudoku?

[controlledvariable]

It's even worse if they know I was Robin, then they break out the bird puns.

[so very wry]

Sudoku's for smart people. [unlike her!] Angry birds, though. That's the best invention ever.

[bumbles]

( A quiet huff of breath. ) That k-kinda thing, uh, p-put you through the winger.

( womp womp )

N-never played it. ( Because it's for smart people. He figured maybe Stephanie liked it, and now he feels stupid. ) I d-don't-- I don't really uh, p-play games any more. ( He's never played Angry Birds, go figure. DONNY YOU HAVE NOT LIVED UNTIL YOU'VE EXPLODED EVIL PIGS WITH BIRDS )

[controlledvariable]

[a groan, but she's laughing.] That's a new one.

[a +

ALSO SHE WAS MAKING A JOKE DONNY JESUS]

You should borrow my iPhone sometime, those games are ridiculously addictive.